Proposed State Agency Energy Curtailment Procedures

The following measures should be applied in all buildings and offices owned or leased by state agencies in order to decrease total electricity and natural gas use by ten percent, and decrease and or shift electricity consumption from peak demand periods of 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.:

1. Assign a management team member with the responsibility of implementing this order.

2. Turn-off office and task lights when not in use. When possible use task light, rather than overhead lights (open blinds for natural light). Turn-off all nonessential lighting including decorative lighting and non-security outdoor lighting; this includes turning-off the capital dome lights. Remove extra bulbs from overlit work areas. (Office buildings frequently use more lights than needed.)

3. At the close of business, turn off all task lights, overhead lights, computer screens, office equipment, and, as possible, personal computers.

4. Reduce heating temperature settings and or raise air conditioning settings. Particularly focus on setting thermostats to reduce the heating or cooling load by 2 or 3 degrees Fahrenheit between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Permit employees to use portable space heaters in heated spaces only when working during evening or weekend hours when central heating systems are turned-off. (Special exemptions may be allowed per Department of General Administration.)

5. Turn-off computer screens when not in use for an hour or more.

6. Coordinate facility's janitorial staff to work during hours of building operation or to turn-off all the lights except in the immediate area in which they are cleaning.

7. Turn water heaters down. Where water heaters are not needed for cafeterias, laundries, or bathing, turn them down to 95 or 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If possible, turn them off at night and weekends. Turn off individual coffee makers. Turn down thermostats on refrigerators.

8. Remove light bulbs from all vending machines located in lighted areas. For cold drink machines, consider installing vending misers that reduce the compressor use during periods when no one is buying beverages or consider unplugging vending machines overnight.

9. Direct executive agencies with institutional facilities such as prisons or hospitals to shift hours of laundry operation to the non-peak hours of the day or night, as possible.

10. Consider implementing each or any of the following longer term measures that will ensure that state agency buildings grow increasingly energy efficient: 1) implement energy performance contracting; the Department of General Administration can assist with private sector, third-party financing of energy conservation measures; 2) require all new buildings that are state facilities or leased by state agencies to undergo building commissioning (This requirement becomes code effective 7/1/01.); 3) schedule a replacement of all exit lighting with LED (light emitting diode) exit signs. LEDs last 20 times longer than conventional signs, reducing energy and maintenance costs about $35 per year; 4) adopt procurement policies and practices that ensure agencies are buying products and services that deliver energy savings.

11. Reduce power use in any other ways that are feasible. Work through normal channels and do not exceed your authority in leased facilities.

Agencies are asked to be conservation models in this effort. However, any required measure may be waived by the agency head or his or her designee at any place where the measure would prevent necessary work or endanger staff, clients, or the public. Where possible, agencies should try to put alternative measures in place to offset any waiver.

For further administrative or technical assistance in meeting this order contact Karen Purtee at the Department of General Administration at 360-902-7194. Additionally, for technical assistance on energy efficiency for commercial offices or institutional buildings call the Energy Ideas Clearinghouse at 800-872-3568 or visit their website at www.energyideas.org.

These measures should be implemented immediately, and remain in force until further notice.